February 01, 2024: Begin watching your school bulletins and this web site for Service Academy Days to learn more about the Academies.
April 01, 2024: Application Acceptance for Service Academy Nominations Begins
June 01, 2024: Suggested date to have taken the SAT or ACT
November 01, 2024: All application material for a Service Academy Nomination must have been received in my Missoula Office.
December 09, 2024: The Academy selection board convenes to conduct individual in person interviews of candidates and makes recommendations for nominations for the entering class of 2025. All applicants receiving my nomination will be notified of a decision shortly thereafter.
Admissions to an Academy is a competitive two-step process:
Step 1: Obtain a Congressional or Presidential nomination
Step 2: Receive and appointment from the Academy
A nomination is made by an authorized source, under Title 10 of the U.S. Code. Congressional nominations include selections made by 1) the Vice President, who nominates candidates from any state or district in the nation, 2) U.S. Senators, who nominate candidates from their entire state, and 3) U.S. Representatives, who nominate candidates that reside within their congressional district.
Each candidate is eligible for up to four congressional nominations. Because the nomination and appointment process is highly competitive, you are strongly encouraged to apply for all the nominations for which you are eligible. In Montana, this is a nomination from:
● The Vice President
● U.S. Senator Jon Tester
● U.S. Senator Steve Daines
● U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (region 2)
● U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke (region 1)
Each of Montana’s congressional offices has a different nomination process. For more details, visit Senator Tester’s website, Senator Daines’ website, Representative Rosendale’s website, or Representative Zinke’s website.
An appointment allows you admission to the Academy, and is only granted after an applicant is has received a nomination.
To be eligible for a nomination, you must meet these requirements by July 1st, 2024.
● Between the ages of 17 and 23
● U.S. Citizen
● Unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
● Reside within the legal boundaries of Montana
*NOTE: If you are attending a service academy preparatory school, a university out of
state, and graduated from a Montana high school, or have recently relocated out of the
U.S. due to your parents’ service in the military, and maintain Montana as your
permanent residence, you may still apply with the Montana delegation.
Presidential, or service-connected, nominations are reserved for the children of career military personnel. To qualify, the parent must meet one or more of the following criteria:
● Be on active duty, and have served continuously on active duty for at least eight years
● Be retired with pay or have been granted retired or retainer pay
● Be a reservist or National Guard member
● Have died after being retired with pay or being granted retired or retainer pay
● Have begun adoption proceedings before the child’s 15th birthday
Yes. Active duty service members meeting the basic eligibility criteria may apply for congressional nominations, in addition to a nomination through their branch of the armed /services. For more details, contact your commanding officer.
Most applicants begin the application process the spring semester of their junior year of high school.
Each of Montana’s congressional offices has a different nomination process. Nomination applications for each office will include:
1) Completed Application
*School and community activities
*Athletic involvement
*Honors/Awards, in and out of academics
*Academy preference
*Personal Essay
2) Letters of Recommendation
*One letter should come from an academic source – a high school teacher/college professor, counselor/advisor or principal
*One letter should come from a non-academic source without familial relation, such as a coach, employer, clergy/church member, mentor, volunteer, or adult family friend
*Please submit all letters of recommendation in PDF format.
3) Official Transcripts
High School/collegiate transcripts, including your fall 2024 class schedule.
4) Official ACT/SAT Scores
Results will be super scored for a composite score. Applicants may take the test as many times as they wish.
Each office processes SAT/ACT scores differently
Each of Montana’s congressional office has a different nomination process.
Senator Tester’s office will be accepting applications until November 01, 2024. Please submit completed applications to:
Office of Senator Jon Tester
c/o Smith Works
8 3rd Street E
Kalispell, MT 59901
Please direct questions to Smith via email at: Academy_Nominations@tester.senate.gov or by phone at 406-257-3859
Senator Daines’ office will be accepting applications until November 01, 2024. Please submit completed applications to:
Office of United States Senator Steve Daines
Academy Nomination Coordinator
218 East Front Street, Suite 103
Missoula, MT 59802
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SEND SIGNATURE REQUIRED. PLEASE ONLY SEND VIA THE UNITED
STATES POSTAL SERVICE.
Please direct questions to Sharon via email at Sharon_Parks-Banda@Daines.Senate.Gov or by phone at 406-595-2007.
Representative Matt Rosendale’s office will be accepting applications until November 01, 2024. Please submit completed applications to:
Congressman Matt Rosendale
Academy Nominations
7 West 6th Avenue, Suite 3B
Helena, MT 59601
Please direct questions to Duane via email at Duane.Nesset@mail.house.gov or by phone at 406-413-6720 Representative Ryan Zinke’s office will be accepting applications until November 01, 2024.
Please submit completed application materials to:
Congressman Ryan Zinke
Academy Nominations
2901 W. Broadway Street, Suite 200
Missoula, MT 59808
Please direct questions to Scott via email at scott.hagan@mail.house.gov or by phone at 406-590-1679
Yes, it is possible to be nominated to more than one service Academy. On your application, you will be asked to rank in numerical order your Academy preferences.
No. The USCGA is the only service academy that does not require or accept a congressional nomination. Applications can be submitted directly online at www.uscga.edu
Because the nomination and appointment process is competitive, not all candidates will receive a nomination or an appointment. Consider earning a military commission through the Reserve Training Officer Corps (ROTC). Additional information is available at:
All candidates will be notified by telephone or email of their nomination status. The Academies will begin making appointments in Early 2025. All appointment offers are generally made by May 01 of each year.
No. A nomination is a selection made by an authorized source and allows a candidate to compete for an appointment. You must apply at the Academies in which you are interested in addition to applying for a nomination.
Yes. Candidates may apply up until the age of 23, so long as they meet the eligibility criteria
Your High School preparation should include:
- Four years of mathematics courses, including geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.
- Pre-Calculus and calculus courses are encouraged.
- One year of chemistry
- One year of physics
- Four years of English, with special attention to the study and practice of effective writing.
- Two years of a foreign language
- Physical activity, including involvement in a school-sponsored or club sports
- Demonstrated leadership ability
- Enrollment in one or more honors or advanced placement courses
- Enrollment in one or more college or university courses through dual enrollment
- A minimum ACT composite score of 26 and/or SAT score of 1200 is recommended to be competitive.